Method of making watchcases



Patented `Aug. y 14, 192g.

Nunirte sra res .este ai"fes.erer..v

Geenen w. BOWEN, or Enom, iLLinors,'Assie-non 'ro rzttrirors warren cass ooie- PANY, .or Enom, ILLINOIS, accesos-Arion or immers.

i .i Maginon or' MiinrNe-'wATcHcasns Appl-cation inea august 25,1927?.` serial No. 215,358.

This invention relates topa method of producing watch casesof the bracelet or wrist type in which are provided opposite pairsof lugs for lhoiding strap hef-.sin place.

Itis an object of this invent-ion to utilize in the manufacture of such cases a method -or process which will be inexpensiveand assure a uniform product; and toproduce by the method 'herein described a watch case in which the lugs remain integral with the inate-rial formingthe case and inseparahly connected thereto. y y j 4 j The construction of the present case and the steps attending the process employed in its formation may he understood `hy reference tothe accompanying drawing where- IIl-fj p i j Figure 1 is a perspective view of thecase whichiis made according to the present process;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the vwork after thefirst operation of hlanlring and drawing;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section therethrough taken on line 8-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail in section taken on lineV .L -1 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 which is a view similar to Fig. 3 shows the work after a second operation; Fig. 6 is an enlarged transverse section therethrough taken on line 6-6 ofFig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a detail in section taken on line 7--7 ofF ig.6;`

Fig.f8 which is a view similar to Figs. 2

shows the work after a third opera- F ig. 9 is an enlarged transverse section therethrough taken on line 9 9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 16 is a detail in section. taken on line 10-1O of Fig. .9;

Fig. 11 which is a view similar to Figs. 2;

5, and 8 shows the work after a foui'th operation;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged transverse section therethrough taken on line 12-12 of Fig. 11;and

Fig. 18 is a detail in section taken on line 13-13 of Fig. 12. v

In the manufacture of a watch case, according to the present invention, I may use, in the first operation, a double acting die for blanking and forming from` sheet metal a 'case such as Fig. 1 shows in finalV or finished form. When blanlred and formed as shown in Fig. 2 the work comprises a'plate 15 having an upstanding marginal flange 16 which wall 17,' as shownin Fig. 7.*

at four pointsiis folded upon itself to proide oppositely"extending lugs arranged inv pairs; rlhe lugsso provided comprise innerV and outer walls I17 and 18, respectively7 the latter upstandingfor the greater distance (see Fig. 4C), and heing, in effect;vcontinua .tionsof higher portions of the flange 16.

It will' he `understood that the material from which the watch case is made may he of any usual kind such; forexample, as nickelhaving applied thereto a rolled plate of precious metal. j 1

Having progressed to this point, the work may he annealed, should this he necessary, and then subjected to the action of a pressing die which" forms it to the shape which is shown in Figs. 5; 6,'and' 7.. In this lsecond 'WiV operation the flanges 16 arehent inwardly to aV slight extent. The plate,V 15 may also be dished in this operation,andthe` higher lug wall 18 is folded overnpon the.. other Having progressed to this point7 a furtherV annealing of the work may he resorted to, if necessary, to keep the material in a soft or pliable condition following which a ill' further pressing operation is performed. 1

This results inthe work taking th-e shape which is indicated in Figs. 8, 9, and 10, wherein it will be noted that the fianges 16 are bent inwardly to a greater extent, and the outer wall 18 of the lug is crushed down still further upon the other lug wall, as

shown in Fig. 10.

The annealing operation may again he resorted to, if this he found necessary, following which the work is subjected once more to the action of a pressing die which reduces it tothe shape shown in Figs. 117 12and 13.

In this last operationthe plate 15A may, if desired, be blanked out to form a case center. Should it he desired to have' the lugs carried by the 'case back, this central portion of the plate will be left intact. In this final operation, the flanges 16 are brought to approximately the final position desired, and thel two walls forming the lugs are pressed tightly one upon the otherrto produce a cross section which may be rectangular or substantially so, as suggested in Fig. 3.

'Ihe'worlr which lis treated to these` successive operations may he subjected finally to a burnish'ing operation by which to smooth ofil and finish its interior and eX- terior surfaces. W'hen this is Vdone all traces of the foldings in the lugs are obliterated so that the lresulting product is free from any ope-ration marks. rlhe various steps herein described are such as to transform inetal to the final product by easy stages without injury to the inetal or the rolled plate whichis applied thereto. It is possible to speed vthe progress by eliminating one or more of the pressing operations, but in order to safeguardV the product, I prefer that the' operations should be *carried out substantially as described.

I claim: Y y

l. The niethod of producing a watch case which 'consists in blanlring a piece of sheet metal and bending the edges to forni a flange and lugs the latter consisting of two adjacent walls one upstanding above the other, in pressing' down the flanges and higher walls of the lugs to bend the saine inwardly and fold one lug wall over upon the other, and finally in burnishing-the work to smooth off the pressed surfaces, substantially as described.

2. kThe method of producing a watch case which consists in blanlzing apiece of sheet metal, vin bending the edges thereofvto forni an upstanding Vflange ,having return bends at four vpoints to provide lugs, and in pressing down and inwardly upon the flangerto bend the same and fold one wall of each lug over upon the other, substantially as described. Y y

3. r-llhe method of producing a watch case which consists in forming yfrom a metal blank a piece having ai marginal flange whichis bent upon itself at four places to provide adjacent walls, one higher than the other, to define lugs, and in'pressing down upon the .edges of the flange and higher lug walls to bend the flanges inwardly and lfold over the higher lug walls upon the other llug walls, substantially as described.

' 4. The method of producing a watch case which consistsin bendingV the edges of a blank to provide an upstanding flange having oppositely disposed lugs formed by return bends in the flange, one wall ofV eachlug upstanding above the other, in annealing the case to preserve `the pliability of the metal under treatment, in njecting the case to the action of a pressing die which bends the flange inwardly and foldsover the higher lug` wal-l upon the other, in again subjecting the case to an annealing operation, and in subjecting the case againto the action of a pressing die which bendsthe flanges to a further degree and also folds down the higher lug wall' upon the other to produce lugs having a substantially rectangular cross section, substantially as described.

GEO. W. BOWEN. 

